I wonder if anyone else is still around. Just took a look at the last post and much has changed in the last couple of years. DADT is history and DOMA has been declared unconstitutional by several District Courts. More states have legalized same sex marriage but all are under attack. CA Prop 8 was overturned by the State Supreme Court which was upheld on appeal. On a sour note, Republican Governors have been busy stripping rights away as quickly as they can. One recall vote was defeated (Wisconsin); however, Ohio voters repealed a power grab by their Governor. Women's rights are under attack and the Affordable Care Act is before the Supreme Court. We're out of Iraq (sort of) and winding down in Afghanistan. European economy is in free fall. The USA is climbing back slowly in spite of a do nothing Congress which knows nothing buy obstruction. Five months until elections and fighting against the mega millions being poured in as a result of that obscenity, Citizens United. I am doing a one person boycott of the Koch Bros. paper products and anything else they're involved with. It's symbolic just as are the cloth bags I use for shopping and the energy light bulbs but makes me feel better. And on a personal note: Elcie is now 19, a high school graduate, and back in town with her own little apartment close to me. Rebecca & Rochelle are 16 and 17 and will be seniors next year. Elcie is here almost every day; often for dinner and her sisters show up every other weekend. Rochelle will be 18 in January and I'm concerned about what's next for her. A pallet on my computer room floor? We'll see what happens. Ray and I muddle along; still planting a small garden. Our first tomatoes will be on the dinner table tonight. We still have cats of course. Son Jim safely home from Iraq for good this time but not without some service connected disability. At least he's here. Tim and Juan are doing great - Tim is back in college. My 99 year old adoptive mom died a few weeks ago back in New York. She was two months shy of 100 and her health had been failing. I'm as political as ever but do much more from home and not so much outside. My City has a small Occupy group which is busy with foreclosure work; especially in protecting innocent tenants from eviction. Petitions are circulating. PFLAG still going strong. And I'm easily findable on FB as some of you know. Ann Adams - Merced CA Granny (not spam - honest)